Alabama Football Recruiting: Top Prospects Attending Tide's Junior Day

Nick Saban is currently the king of college football recruiting, so it's no surprise several standout members of the 2015 class are heading to Tuscaloosa this weekend for a closer look at his operation. Alabama will host a collection of premier prospects Saturday for a junior day, reports 247Sports writer Charles Power.

Junior day events occur throughout the country and give recruits and their families an opportunity to explore campuses, visit football facilities and ask coaches questions. The Crimson Tide staff will stay busy seeking out their top targets in an attempt to acquire commitments during the weekend.

In-state players are expected to swarm to Tuscaloosa next signing day, but visitors from beyond Alabama are the biggest storyline Saturday. Let's take a closer look at the top-tier talents who will be in town.

4-Star WR Preston Williams (Hampton, Ga.)

Credit: 247Sports

Preston Williams pledged to SEC rival Tennessee in September but didn't exactly shut down his recruiting process. He visited Clemson earlier this month, attended a junior day at Florida last weekend and now gets his first look at Alabama.

The 6'5", 205-pound receiver is rated No. 7 nationally at the position in 247Sports' composite rankings. He caught 59 passes for 1,388 yards and 14 touchdowns during his junior season at Lovejoy High School.

5-Star LB Justin Hilliard (Cincinnati, Ohio)

Credit: 247Sports

St. Xavier High School linebacker Justin Hilliard is a relentless defensive force. The 6'2", 230-pound thumper stifles the rushing attack and adds another dimension in blitz packages.

His nationwide recruitment has already taken him to campuses at Oklahoma, Michigan, Iowa and Ohio State. Alabama aims to wrangle the heralded recruit from Big Ten country, and that effort hits another level on Saturday.

Hilliard is rated the nation's No. 2 outside linebacker prospect and top player in Ohio.

Due to proximity, Saban will want to make the most of his presence on campus. The goal here is to secure an official visit later in the process.

4-Star OG Richie Petitbon (Washington, D.C.)

Petitbon, a Gonzaga High School standout, is listed third among all guards in 247Sports composite rankings. Few programs can compare to Alabama when it comes to producing top-tier offensive line talent for the NFL draft, which has to be an alluring factor for any player of Petitbon's prowess.

He attended junior day at Boston College earlier this month and spent time at Penn State in the past. His offer sheet also includes LSU, Maryland and Nebraska, among others.

4-Star LB Roquan Smith (Montezuma, Ga.)

Roquan Smith, another Peach State product, produced at a high level throughout his junior season. The outside linebacker secured 79 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions, per MaxPreps.

He's been busy on the recruiting trail recently, including a trip to Tallahassee last weekend for Florida State's junior day. Smith, who spent time at Georgia Tech earlier this month, also holds offers from Auburn, Georgia and Kentucky.

Alabama has ridiculous depth throughout its linebacker corps, so Saban's mission is to convince Smith there's an early role to be earned. His recruitment appears destined for an all-out SEC battle.

4-Star DE Sterling Johnson (Clayton, N.C.)

Credit: 247Sports

Mammoth Cleveland High School star Sterling Johnson is one of the most physically imposing defensive ends in this class. The 6'5", 274-pound strong-side prospect picked up 80 tackles, including an astonishing 51 for loss, during his junior season.

Johnson added eight sacks and three forced fumbles. He attended Virginia Tech's junior day earlier this month and also has serious interest in Florida State, Miami, Clemson and North Carolina.

Alabama offered Johnson a scholarship Feb. 9, and quickly attracted attention from the talented defender. His recruitment is really starting to take off, evidenced by the upcoming visit to Tuscaloosa.